Flushing-valve.



R. M. KEATING.

FLUSHING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3, 1914.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917;

2 SHEETSSHEET I- W 1.v VENTOR. By @413? A TTORNEYS.

WITNESSES.- A/ Q? m R. M. KEATING.

FLUSHING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a. 1914.

1,242,200. Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H I luii 7 WMW W W,

A TTORNEYS.

i To all whom it may camera: I

Be it known'that ROBERT'M, mm, a I citizen of the United'states of 'America, re'

siding at Springfield, in the. county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Flushing-Valve,

v of which the following is asp ecification, l

to provide such a'valve with ample means of nections leading thereto and therefrom. This 1 valve is easily opened loy' hand fori ,cated 'mechanism; v I L The after-flush controlling-or producing.

My invention relates tdii'nprovements in automatic, self-closing, water-'closetflushing devices-and is in the natureof an improve:

ment of the valve which forms the subject 7 matter-of my applicationforUnitedStates j Letters Patent, Serial N 0. 758,995. This valve in its general structure, as in the other case, consists of a casing having an inlet and an outlet'for the Water, and being provided with an inlet cage, With'main and auz'zilia'ry valve members for the control of the intake,

and With a retardingpiston, "andin addi tion; to these parts and 'ine'mhers said valve is provided with certain peculiar support ng and operating means for said main'jand aux- If iliary valve members, and "With "certain culia'r means foi'controll-ingthe' escape of the- Water confined vv'ith'in the retarding chamber of the valve,"Which-"chamber made up in part of saidpiston, alias her-e inaftersetdforthk The objects of my invention are, first, to L produce a flushing valve that is i simple in construction and operation, can-be easily and quickly assembled and takeniapart, andfisf] capable of'producing an; after flush in addig V g I r V J v g tlon-onihne ,m Fig. 1, l'ook1ng do vn,

The valve comprises a vertical cylindrical casing which is proVided Witha cap 2, which ca'p'is j'screvved "into the top of 'saiilgr easing f to; close the 'same,fandvalve-, mechanism i 1 within such casing, which f mechanism; ih j' eluding alloi? its parts 'andfmembers, is taehed to or connectedvvith said capjandf're; '1 movable therewith from" f the easing the aforesaid parts'fand members I being so c 'stri'1cted preferably thatgthe y Withftl're cap 2 3 form unit for retrieval fan'd re lacement: '.f- 'Thi'sflis 'a yery" advantageous feature, of I y. V -i11ventiori ,-becau'se I am th'erebyjenaloled to take lout'such parts: and.memhersreadily the purpose of removing the main seat, 're ackin'g, readjusting, ior otherwise pairing, replacing, or changing 1' part f jthe f mechanism needing attention, 1 and beregulated as to time and amount second,

adjustment to ada'ptthe sameto any-given condition, and,t'o afford means whereby the".

entire interior mechanism of the valve pan" be most'readily removed andreplaced Without disturbing thecasing or the Water con the flushing" operation," and automatically olosed 'at the end of such operation," andre quires no other cushioning or retarding fliiidi medium than the ater admitted during the] flushing operation Awhighf'degree of 'efligf ciency is thus obtained simply-and without resorting to numerous parts and 'c aoniplr-g 1 parts during the closing operation or near Specification of Lettrs-Ifatent,

j designate like partsthroughout the several! 1s "a central' vertical section I g- 3, a S e evetie ij-ffi Of, 1 structure vvhich isreni'o vahle" mg thfc'ap frointhe outside a crosssectiontaken onflines parts and menihers;

I =FLUsHIiiG-vALvE94 I AppIieationfiledMarch i3,19:14. fseiiaiivqie gieel I Pate tdoqe'Q, 191 *7,

retardation ofthe valv'e'closing actio n"jis,

produced automatically by ideerdsing .the'

amount of "Water permittedfto escape under" the. force of the 'retardingf pi stojn, in moving to1 valve-"closing "position;

Other g in' -the course'ofthe f O je s: an ed 're' he dven s b th same, is illustrated fin 'the'fiaccompanying drawings, and'fIjvvillproc eedto describe "the invention" with reference 'to "Sai drawings,

/ although "itis u) be understood that the form,.constructio n, arrangement, etc; of the parts in; various a'sp ects farenot materialand v maybe'niodifie'd without'fdeparture fromthej j through "'a"-valve,. shoufi11g the invention as.

, f s i i t iefs fl b ng e b fa a. similarv ew,"exceptthat here less parts are in section and the v al'veiis shown f ully op'en, 5

na e

looking dp n ig.- 5, a side elvajt io and} conveniently 7 w nev r I necessary readily and' conveniently", to restorers The casing 1 has an 1 nter or" 7 i 13 .1 r 11; v n'ofthe pusher for the main valve ';Fig.f 6,. .& "to T 7 plan of said pusher, and,*'1rig; 7, "a' cross-sec: 5

inlet 8 at the bottomand an outlet 5in-onesideabout midway" be tween the two ends of said casing, Pipeconnections are made in the usual manner: with the inlet end and outlet flange or; nozzle of the casing. d

On the inside of the casing 1, belowthe outlet 5, is a flange 6.

VAS? previously observed the cap 2 has screw connection with the casing 1, this being the preferred construction, and a packing-ring 8 may be introduced between the.

the properoperation of the parts, as herein after explained v I Supported on the casing. flange 6,, with. an

interposed packing 'ririg' '13, isfai regulator;

for th'e intake, preferably in the form ofan annular cage 14 providedwitjh an ustabl e cutoff shutter 15 The cagl4 has a flange v 16 at the top, nd this is the part that rests;- on the flange 6. There are vert cal slots or portsjlfin thecag'e' 14, and correspending orts in thes'hutter A main valve: operates in the cage 14 and is guided inits 'moveinentj by cage. V I I 7 Theshutter' lb fits underand around the -i cag'e l to w h it is attached, by means of f 40 a binding screamnd a washer. Upon looseningfthe screw 20,the shutter 15 can be? rotatablyj adjusted so; as to bring the port s 18 into whatever relationship with the ports I m y be necessary or desirable in" order tofadinitthe' required VOlfllII-IQ, of

water to the cage 14 andthe parts aboye,

After suchladjnstment the screw20is again tightened to prevent displacement of the shutter; It is byv means of: this shutter that the valve is regulated to different water p ss r s- Risingfrom theflange l6iand}.in threaded v engagementwith an upright portion thereii m b which c pr se a zma-i valve-seat, represented at 22 a plurality ofi uprights 23, and a flange 24 which connects said fup rig hts at the top and isi'n threaded engagement. with the base of the Q l 2,

It'is now clear that, when the flange2ld is screwed on to theI ca'p 2. and the cageis attached by its fiangelo to the valveeseap 22,; these. memberswithl their. interior mechbecome a unit, so far as their insera t1oii n and removal from thecasmg 1 isconcerned, and that sald members after beingw. removed from said casing can beeasily and quickly separated one from another, by

the mere act of unscrewing the threaded parts, and as-easily and quickly 7 connected again. When the aforesaid members are screwed 'together and inserted in the cas-' ing- 1, the cap 2 is screwed down into said casing: until the flange 16 is forced tightly against the flange 6 or the packing-ring 13,

so that a water-tight joint is formed between said flanges.

T valve-seat is-provided a packin'grin'g 25, whichis let, into'the bottom of said seat: and is the part against which thel valve 1 9v actually impingesfin closing, a The packing-ring 25yis ,widefenougqh to extend over 'ont'o' the topfof the cage 17, and so between said cage and v makes a tight joint the valve-seatv 22;

Ri ingim .val' ieiija 11s oll w semi sl'e'evef9. Thefval ve 19 may screwed on; to the base of the stem26, or otherwise se cured thereto, as may be desired; A retarding piston27 is securedto thestenr26 at or near the upper terminal thereof.; This pistonfits and operates within the cap 2;,

26- which extends lupwardl-y around their and' 'may 'or-may not be provided-with a cup-paclnngas 28, In the present casethe;

ci p-packing 28 is held in placeonthe piston 27. by means ot a disk 29: and nub 30r h latter beingvv screwedon to theupper end ef-v es m 26 above, sa i k.

T e" PiStOn 2 ns-equ ppe w h a "t l i la 7 member 31', which-memberopens atthe bot--,

tom below said piston, and through one or a e;ae lppr s abo id: Pis on A regulating screw 33jis lIlSBItQdjiQItlilfi-Z meme berg; abovethe, ports 32 for the purpose of increasing; or decreasing. the size of such .7 v 10s ports, accordingly as said; screw ISEUIHQdU.

w 1? .2130. 521 go n. heame nt or vol nne of water-that escapesintosaid memher to pass} through the same into; the spacebelow thepiston The member 31% is so situated that its; axis coincides with the 7 axis '1 1 ofthevalve IO, and; operates up. down;

insaid' valve. These parts are-sq prgOl-JOlttionedthat, as: the piston21 rises; with the a member 31 theports 32- are-covered by Said valyebe fore said piston reaches-theendjof its upwand: stroke;- The n ember fili hasiaf .7

sliding-fit with thevalvel L0, vwhichE is not tightl enough, to prevent water from being-j forced; between the contacting surfaces ;v "Upon removing the screw cap 12- access-a-is;.

had thrmigh thevalve 10- to the :screw. 33: for

the pu rpose of adjustfing the latter,-

The ,space within-the cap '2 abovegthe pis-w ton 27; is the retarding chamber of this. valve, the only escape from whichywhen! 1 said. piston ismaking its upwardstroke, is

byway of the ports 32: and-the passageinsri the. member ,3 1flinto which said; ports open And; the means Ofi escapethus'provided; be

Thusthe BIIQT'Of the closing "'0 eration "is" rendered slowand timeis afior' ed for the j after flush; that is', 'for a quantityof ater to flow through the valve'int'o the bowl so slovvly that'it remains'th'erein after thereal v v n I g p auziiliary valve s nsed; the head 'ofith e Although'the means herein-shown and de scribed'for cutting down or materially de creasing the flow from theretarding chamher, and Whichmay be 'termedaprogressive retarder, is entirely practicable for the pur flushing operation has taken place;

pose, I do not desire or'intendytolimit' myself to such means,'butseek"to"eover broadly a progressive reta'rder orany means'whereby the escaping fluid which controls the closing of a valve is held back'or cutdovvn involurne after having escaped in part.

Thevalve 1'9-and thepiston 27 are both on the same stem',"26, and so center said stem. "Although the stem :26 j in part incloses the sleeve 9; there is sufficient 1 space between said stem and around" the outside of-said-sleevefor the passage Of'WfltQI' into the retarding chamber Which is novv desig-' nated by the numeral 34. A

Slidingly' mounted in the eenter of-thef' a shoulder 36 at'its inner end Whichmayf limit the upward movement of'said' plunger;

and in any eventprevents the samefmm bethe sleeve 9is closed by' fneans" of aZ screW-* plug 39,"and a spring 40 is interposed in said sleeve betvveensaid plug and the bottom ot' -the'plungerfi*35. Theten dencyof the spring 40 is to force the -plunger 35 with ltS" attached parts upwardlyand to retain said I "tutesfa' p'art'so that the spindle and plunplunger andpartsin elevated position. v The spindle 38 extends" downwardly"from' the plunger 35 through-the center of the tube9;

through" an opening in*-the-'plug- 39 andi ai stufiing-box ll '5 in saidfl plug, "through the slower portion-j of the stem "26, "and finally through the center of-the' valve" 19, Securely fastened to' th'e base of thespi'ndle 38; by

spindle 38 and the'v'alve 43 must be soadjustedthat-thepacking-ring 44 can be prop erly seated before the upward movement 7 of the parts is or can be checked bythe shoulthe passageway is 'cleared between the cage '14 andthe-retarding'chamber 34,such"pas-* 5 111g Withdrawn froin'the. top' of the cap A-kriob 37 has'a its'; stem tapped into the pro sired result every time.

the tem 26; i

"Screwed oiitoff the spindle ori 'otherwiser-igidly attachedthereto, directly above thepacking' -ringel, is a pusher 4C6 fer-"the rangement of parts,aresuch 'that', iv hen the pusher 4 6 "stands clear of the f'valve, and Saidhead does 'i ot] come into fcontact' 'main alve 19;f'Theconstruction and ar-fv V with 'saidi main valve until suflicie'nt movementhas been given tofthe spindle 38 to fully open said "auxiliaryvalveg V V )The' operation of the valveis' described as follows; it being assumed that all adjustmentsihave beenmade'and the parts stand as shownjintheffirst view. WVith thehand graspingthe knobl37 the operator forces the] plunger 135i and; spindle" 38 downward,

against theresiliencyof the spring 4Q" ands of 'the'pressure offthe Waterfin'the rower;

part of the casing ljandin'the cage 14, until valve is againf fully closed and all movable ob aing e the"bottomedge of therifn of'thepiston27;\ V comes to rest on top 'ofthe uprights 23,15 f

when said knob is released, the valve, ref] 1 quiring no further attentiononthe part of thefoperator." This simple manual act'p er 1 i formed by the operator has, however, not, only opened the valve and brought about the 'full flushing operation for Ivvhich the valve is;designed,*jbut started a series of auto; r matic actions Which latter do not cease unftilfjthef'after flush has'take'n place and the M .v 1 -v 'parts'aren readlness1for-a repet1t1on"ofthe complete flushing operatio n'j all 'movements" 1 being orderly,'flquitenoiseless so far, asine-fj fchanica'l elements'are concerned, andcertain "so that there is no failure to W'h' 'n the spindle 3 8 j is pushed doivn the knob '37 and theintervening plunger 35;}

of whichl'latter-said spindle really constif ger together might with propriety beclassed valve 19, but vvithout jclosing'j the central from the: seat"4 5 ,"thus breakingthe Water; v I

seal; and a, quantity {of Water immediately rushes through said seat and; the stem :26 intothe retardingchamberfMQ Meanwhile the valve 1 9fis'held to its,seatfjby'ltheWater"? I opening in said valve, and {forces t e-mar *fromlits seat. "Asfsoon as the valve 19mm} 'mences" to descendflvvater I flovvs' over "the ,same through the'slots l Sfiand 17, passes through. the valve seat :22 and escapes to the outlet 5. Attheend of the dovvnfstrokeof' fl in Fig. 2. 1

t ng l' i w 'dee n, saw-W111 der'36; -When theauxlliary valve is open 1 valve 19 and the connecting stem 26, and it 1s qulteposs bl'e't'liat some water may enter said chamber through the progressive retarder member 31 which moves down with 5 said piston sofas/to fully uncover the ports 32. It maybe observed here that thevalve of the progressive retarder'is hung loosely, as hereinbefore noted, so as to ac-1 commodate itself to the member 31 asthe 1 9 latter moves up and down in'the former.

'Havingbeenreleased by the operator,

the'plungeri35 beginsito rise under the in fluence ot' the spring 40. 111 rising tlie plunger '35 almost instantly closes the valve 1 4-3, through the medium of the sp indl' e 38, and the main valve 19, with Which said valve a3 is now in contact, iscarried upP.

wardly with'said valve 43, together with the stem 26, the piston 27, a'nd'theprogressive retarder member 31. The parts elevatedby the members which are elevating the valve 43 under the influence of the spring can rise only as fast as the waterin the retarding.

chamber 34 is vexpelled by' the piston 27 through the ports 32 'and lthe passage leading "downward from the same in the member'31, no water belng able to'escape through the valve-seat 15. The slow closing of the valve 19 thus brought about gives ample timefor 30 the passage of a suiiicient amount of Water.

to flush the bowl; Before the valve 19 is I completely closedthe ports 32 inthe member 31 pass into the valve 10, in consequence'of which the flow of the water from the retards" 35 ing. chamber 3 1 is very materially reduced,

--snch water being able to escape only by be,- ing'j forced upwardly into said, tube and' around said member until-saidflports are reached; with the result that the finalclosing 40 ofsaid valve 19 is extremelyslow "and allows time and opportunity for a quantityof water 1 to fiow into the bowland to remaintherein after theactualfiushing operation has taken 7 place. "The valv'eiis completely closedwhen the seating of the main valve takes-place and.

' no more "water can flow through the valveseat 45 untiltieplunger is again forced down.

The single spring in this valve is ,com

56 ple'tely]; inclosed and protected from the,

*watenas clearly shown in Fig. 1. r

I lthough I have shown; and described the .members which together constitute what mayibe'termed an interior casing, and'which 5 comprise the cage; 1 1, the valve-seat 2 2 with *itsuprights 23 and the flange 24:, and the cap 2, as being threaded engagement with g each other, it is very apparent that such engagement is not always imperative or even- 9 essential, For example, the screw threads "be omitted from the bottom portion of the cap 2 and from the flange 24,,without efi'ctin'g any material change in construction or function,,more espeoiallysince the 6 5 interior. mechanism would in 7 such. 7 an 1 event a mo.

' alliliabiility.of watenhammer is removed.

l/Vliat I claim as invention, anddesire to secure Letters Patent,is-'' 1. A flushing valve comprising a casing. having ani'ntake and an outlet a valve-seat in said. casing, a valvefor said"seat, said valve having ,a valve seat and being. pro vided with a hollow stem, a-jretarding. pis ton on said stem, progressive retarding means, for said piston, within saidretarding chamber and. opening through said; PlStCIlga spring-pressed plunger a valve carried saidplunger'for theseat in s aidlfirstfmentioned' valve, and means to unseat said-first 901 mentioned valve after the valve carried by; saidplunger is unseateds 2; A flushing valve comprising. a casing; having an inlet and an outlet; anclprovided with: a valve seat, means to 1 close one end of: 5 said casing, a retarding chamber at,the closed-end of said casing, such chambercorh sisting in part of a piston, a valve for said;

' seat, hollow stem connecting saidvalve andp ston and opemngthroughboth, pro;- 106;

gressive retarding means for said piston;

1 tubular member, extending ,from' thej closed 1 end of the casing. into said stem, a plu.nger" extending. through-said closed end and-in 'avarcllythrough said valve-guide means foams said stem the innerjend ofsaidi tubulari v member, a springfingsaid tubulanmembei": to actuate said] plungerfineone direction, a valve on said pl'unger for the in et: Do-said stem,--andmeans to unseat; the first valve ai m the second: valve is .unseated;

3; A'fiushing valve comprising; a casingzj having. an inlet: and an outlet and provided: with a valve-seat, means to closeoneend'ofi said casing, .a retarding, chamber at thew- 151 closedend of saidcasing, such chamber'com sistingin part of aipiston, .a;- tubular memvberv extending HIT/0583,16. chambena member carried by saidpiston in-sliding re'lationto; Y

said tubular member, said second mentionedllzo member opening on both sides ofisaid piston and adapted; to:have'-the1entrance -theretopartially closed. by: said tubular "member as saidpistom approaches the'endi-of. its oliitward stroke, a valve for said'seatga hollow v stem connecting 1 said valve; andi iston} and V opening, through; both, a, tubular member; extending from the closed end; of' the casing; into said stem, a plungerextending through:

said closed end: and inwardly: through said valve, a valve on said plunger for the inlet to said stem, and means to unseat, the first valve after the second valve is 'unseated.

4. In a flushing valve, members including a piston which assists in forming a retarding chamber, a tubular member extending into said chamber, a member carried by said piston in sliding relation to said tubular member inside, said second-mentioned member opening on both sides of said piston and adaptedto have the entrance thereto partially closed by said tubular member as said piston approaches the end of its outward stroke, and an adjusting member within said second-mentioned member, for said entrance to said second-mentioned member.

5. In a flushing valve, members including a piston which assists in forming a retarding chamber, a tubular valve member extending into said chamber'from one of the Walls thereof, such wall having an opening over said member, a screw-cap for said opening, a member earned by sald plston in member for said entrance to said secondmentioned member, said adjusting member being accessible when sai screw-cap is removed. V 6. A flushing valve comprising a casing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

having an inlet and an outlet-and Provided with'a valve-seat, parts'forming a retard-V ing chamber and including a 'plston, pro

gressive retarding means-'for said piston within said retarding chamber and opening through said piston, a valve for said seat, a hollow stem connecting said valve and pis-' ton, and means to open and close the entrance to said stem.

7. A flushing valve comprising a'casing" having an inlet and an outlet and provided with a valve-seat, parts forming a retarding chamber and including-a'piston, retarding means, for said piston, within said retarding chamber and 'openingthrough said piston, a spring-pressed plunger suitably mounted in the casing and provided with a valve and a pusher, a valve for said seat and itself provided with a seat for the valve on said plunger, said second-mentioned valve having its seat located between said firstmentloned valveand sald' pusher. the arrangement of parts being such that a limit-- ed amount of movement independent of-said secondementioned valve is permitted to'said first-mentioned valve and said pusher, and a hollow stem between said second-mentioned valve and said" piston and opening through both.

ROBERT M. KEATINGQ- Witnesses: I

F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS- Washington, D. 0. 

